Impact of COVID-19 on the Prevalence of Dyslipidemia in Ecuador: A Cross-Sectional Study between 2017-2022

Background: Dyslipidemias are among the significant risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and are associated with dietary habits and physical activity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictive measures to control spread led to lifestyle changes. Therefore, assessing dyslipidemias during this period becomes crucial.This study aimed to determine changes in the prevalence of dyslipidemias during the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 years in three regions of Ecuador.Methods: Cross-sectional study. Adults from Quito, Guayaquil, and El Coca, were included with cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglyceride levels at primary care centers between January 2017 and December 2022. Data were obtained from the Biodimed companies. The analysis includes calculations of frequencies, overall and annual prevalence, Odds Ratios (OR), and Average Annual Percent Change (AAPC). Dyslipidemia was considered present when one or more parameters exceeded specific thresholds. Sociodemographic variables and the year of examination were included as independent variables.Results: The study analyzed 110521 participants, with 65·3% males. The average age of 38±12 years. The study spanned the Andean (72·4%), Coast (15·4%), and Amazonic region (12·3%). Pre-pandemic exams constituted 60·9% of the sample. The prevalence of dyslipidemia increased gradually from 43·1% in 2017 to 64·1% in 2022. Cholesterol levels, HDL, and LDL, exhibited changes during the pandemic, with an increased risk of hypercholesterolemia, low HDL, and high LDL. Increases in AAPC were observed for Dyslipidemia, Cholesterol levels, HDL, and Triglycerides.Interpretation: The COVID-19 pandemic increased the prevalence of dyslipidemias, including hypercholesterolemia, high triglycerides, and high LDL, across three regions in Ecuador.Funding: This study was self-funded.Declaration of Interest: No conflicts of interest are reported.Ethical Approval: Ethical guidelines for research as defined by the Declaration of Helsinki (16) were considered, and approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee for Human Research of the General Hospital San Francisco, with code number 13, version 1.